Shirtless firefighter calendar set to launch next week

Firefighter Cassian Alexy poses with his dog while shooting the 2020 Grande Prairie Charitable Firefighters Foundation Calendar. The calendar is set to release during a launch party hosted at Madhatters, 7pm to 12am Sept 19.Prairie Ranger Photography / Supplied

“We’re just a bunch of regular Joe’s doing our best and wanting to raise money for our foundation,” said full-time firefighter Cassian Alexy.

“It’s a nice little confidence boost for the guys,” he said.

For his first time shooting a calendar, Alexy said given the subject matter, it was something he enjoyed— joking that depending how his body looks without a shirt on in later years, it would be something he may want to participate in again.

“We generally try to have fun with it,” he said. “Obviously, none of us are models or anything like that, (but) we’re just trying to do our best and have fun with it—joke around as much as possible to keep everything as comfortable as possible.”

The calendar is set at 14 months, featuring one of the firefighters and a shout out to a sponsor on every page.

Aiming to sell out of calendars at the launch party, the GPCFA hopes to raise $30,000 in sales to help give back to the community.

Unique to this year’s calendar, many of the guys brought in their own pets, aiming to keep the calendar fresh, interesting and fun.

Alexy said he brought in his dog to shoot with him and another of his peers brought in his horse.

“Shirtless firefighters is a thing that’s been going on for a long time in the fire service, generally because the gentlemen are fairly fit and it seems to do well with different demographics,” said Alexy.

“As for the pets, we wanted to change it up a little bit.”

A personal favorite from the shoot that did not make it to the calendar, Alexy said one photo was taken of one of the guys dancing on a pole that was “worth a giggle.”

As a part of the fundraiser kickoff night, various raffle prizes will be distributed to attendees.

Included is a $1,500 jewelry piece from Curry’s Jewelers, as well as a piece from Janina’s Jewelers.

“We’re (mainly) trying to make the night as fun and engaging as we can,” said Alexy.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of the story said the firefighters were volunteers. In fact, they are full-time members.